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Accounting CV template

Don’t underestimate the value of a CV. It’s the document that gives prospective employers their first impressions of you. Your CV needs to tell employers why you’re best suited for the job at hand, effectively and concisely. If you’re an Accountant, it needs to really sell your professionalism, precision, technical skills and strong industry relationships. Here’s how to write a great Accountant CV, and nail that first impression.

Accountant CV do's

Do keep it brief. Two or three pages for your accounting CV is ideal.

Acknowledge your academic credentials early. These tend to be more relevant to the accounting and financial sector than other industries.

Do include company names clearly, and spelled correctly. In finance, who you’ve worked for matters.

Do call out memberships with industry-recognised bodies or organisations you’ve worked with.

Do tailor your accounting CV specifically to the company you’re applying with.

Do explain what was required of you in each role, to highlight the skills required and learned.

Do provide detail of your successes. If you reduced costs or increased efficiency, detail how you did it, and by how much.

Do always run a thorough spelling and grammar check before submitting your financial CV.

Accountant CV don'ts

Don’t speak in general terms. Be precise, but succinct.

Don’t think a generic CV will work. You need to tailor your accounting CV for each role, understanding that the organisational structure, culture and duties differ with each position.

Don’t use company-specific language or terminology. Stick to what is known and understood at an industry level.

Don’t bend the truth, even a little bit. Be honest about your work experience and career ambitions in your financial CV.

Download accountant CV sample

Accountant CV example

This accounting CV sample is strong because throughout the document, it’s clear what makes this candidate unique. The education section – an area on which employment for accountants is often contingent – sits clearly at the top of the CV, and shows just how much this candidate achieved while studying.

An Accountant CV applies general CV-writing good practice: keeping to two pages, opening with a pointed career objective, and detailing the specifics of accomplishments in past roles. It is easy to digest and an employer could learn a lot about this accounting candidate with even the briefest read. The contact details are current and respectable, and the names of companies and past employers are clear and spelled properly.

Accountant CVs can always be strong, whether you’re going for your first job, or your tenth. Just be sure to follow the above tips and use the sample CV as a guide and you’ll be on track to success.